The 5 Languages of Love - Bradley/Colin (RPF)
Yes, I finally finished it! (And skipped going to a staff meeting to do so, how's that for priorities?)
Title: The 5 Languages of Love
Author: psyche_cuore
Pairing: Bradley/Colin
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2656
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Purely a work of fiction. They belong to me only in my imagination.
Summary: Colin contemplates the many ways in which Bradley shows his love.
Notes: My first venture into Bradley/Colin and RPF in general, and only my second fic in Merlin fandom so any and all comments are very welcome. It is excessively fluffy, but apparently that is where my muse went with this.
Physical Touch: This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face - they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial.
1.
Physical touch had been a part of their relationship long before they became involved romantically. Colin was sure this was one of Bradley’s major forms of communication, because he seemed so determined to stick his foot in it when attempting to speak to people, that he must rely then on touch to soothe any wounds caused by his words.
At first, it was a slap on the back in greeting or a bump of the hip to extract a response when Colin took too long to react to a joke or playful jibe.
When Colin was bitten by the dog during filming, Bradley waited by his side as an ambulance was called. As everyone rushed about frantically, their voices combining into one unintelligible furore, Bradley reached out and placed a hand on Colin’s lower arm, squeezing gently. The soft look of concern on his face gave Colin something else to focus on, and slowly the roar of voices quietened until he was able to slow his breathing and calm his racing heart.
After that, Colin noticed more and more the ways in which Bradley communicated with him by touch. The brush of knuckles at the small of his back indicating concern as long days of filming took their toll, the celebratory hug when the cast gathered to watch the recently completed episode and the good luck squeeze to his shoulder as he embarked upon his first stunt.
Then, one day, it all changed and Colin noticed a difference in the touches. They were more frequent, tended to linger longer than decidedly necessary.
He puzzled over the change wordlessly for over a week. Then, the main cast arranged to meet for drinks on a Saturday night. Squeezed into a tiny booth in an already overcrowded bar, Colin found it impossible to focus on the conversation he’d been having, his concentration squarely on the feel of Bradley’s thigh pressed against his own. Confused with where his thoughts were leading him, he tried to shuffle over to create some distance between them, but then Bradley’s hand was on his thigh halting his progress, sure and steady.
Bradley tilted his head and gave him a soft look, reassuring. Colin understood.
He moved back to his original position, Bradley’s hand still firmly in place, thumb rubbing soothing circles against the rough fabric of his jeans.
If the others noticed the sudden smile that graced Colin’s features, they didn’t question it.
~ ~ ~
Words of Affirmation: Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important-hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward.
2.
He’d never noticed before just how complimentary Bradley was of him, between the insults, that is. But as they sat in the courtyard at Pierrefonds, waiting for filming to recommence and finishing off their interviews for the latest entertainment program visiting the set, Colin found himself caught up in Bradley’s assured response to the latest question about their relationship as co-stars.
“I’ve really come to appreciate his humour a lot more now, how complex and intelligent it is, and I think we’re quite attuned to each other’s sense of humour. But really, Col’s just a really nice guy - genuinely nice, you know? It’s rare.”
The interviewer wrapped it up shortly after that, having noticed the director making gestures across the courtyard. Once the cameras had left the vicinity, Colin appeared at Bradley’s side, bumping him playfully with his hip.
“You like me,” he grinned, eyes alight with pleasure.
“Well, obviously.”
Bradley adjusted his jacket and attempted to look unaffected, but he knew full well the meaning behind his words.
He sighed dramatically and made direct eye contact. “You’re not just a great shag, Col, I do actually appreciate your other qualities.”
Colin closed the distance between them, lowering his voice in a tone suggestive of a more intimate encounter.
“I appreciate you, too.”
The words were accompanied by a sneaky kiss too brief for either of their liking.
~ ~ ~
Acts of Service: Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.”
3.
No matter how exciting and fun it was to be filming in France, one thing that never got any easier was the early morning calls. Colin, more than anyone, was subjected to them on a regular basis. Somehow they never used to bother him quite so much, until they started to interfere with his nights spent with Bradley.
Early on, they’d tried spending the night together on evenings before early calls. But Colin was incapable of moving around the hotel room quietly in the dark and always felt guilty for disturbing Bradley, who was surprisingly grumpy when his sleep was interrupted.
After that, it was agreed they would remain in their own rooms.
That morning, like many others, Colin found himself running late, upending the contents of his room in search of his script. Finally finding it jammed between the bed and the side table, he threw it into his pack, slipped on his shoes and headed for the door.
As he opened the door, the wonderful rich aroma of chocolate hit him and he looked down to see a travel mug sitting on the carpet in the middle of the entranceway. Five minutes later, bundled into the warmth of the waiting transport, he had the opportunity to enjoy the hot drink that had been tempting his senses since he’d found it.
By the time the car reached the castle he was feeling warm and comfortable, ready to approach the day.
*
That evening when he returned to the hotel, Colin could think only of falling into bed. Barely able to keep his eyes open long enough to stumble up the stairs to his room, he somehow managed to get the key into his door and push it open.
He stood for several minutes just inside the doorway, staring blankly ahead as he gathered himself. Stuck in that overtired state where thoughts flowed through his brain, thick like molasses, it wasn’t surprising that he jumped at the sound of a voice from in front of him.
“Jesus, Colin, you’re dead on your feet!”
Bradley leapt to his feet from where he had been stretched out waiting on the bed, half a dozen chocolate wrappers falling around him as he stood.
He made his way over to the door and wrapped a hand securely around Colin’s bicep, placing his free hand against his lower back to guide him.
“Come on,” he encouraged. “Let’s get you changed and into bed.”
As they reached the edge of the bed, Bradley pushed gently so that Colin was sitting on the edge. Pulling at his shirt, Colin raised his arms helpfully and allowed himself to be undressed. With the shirt off, Bradley knelt on the aging carpet and reached for Colin’s belt, deftly unsnapping the buckle, popping the button and lowering the zipper.
Colin lay back against the blessedly soft covers, allowing himself to relax at last.
Bradley managed to wrestle the trousers down his legs, discarding them behind him without a second glance. Lifting Colin’s legs back onto the bed, he swivelled him around so he was stretched out fully.
Once he had him stretched comfortably against the pillows, Bradley joined him on the bed, pressed against his side so that he could stroke his hair from his forehead.
“What were you doing in here, anyway?” Colin asked, eyes still closed.
Bradley kept threading his fingers through his hair in a continued effort to soothe him.
“I thought we could watch a movie together, but that can wait until another night. Right now you just need to lay back and let yourself relax. Let me take care of you.”
Colin hummed his approval and leaned into the touch, enjoying the warmth spreading through his body. Finally at ease, he let himself drift in and out of the peaceful fog surrounding him, hanging on to the gentle timbre of Bradley’s voice mumbling nonsense close to his ear.
Minutes later, when the purring like noises had stopped, Bradley looked down to find Colin sleeping peacefully.
He pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, then gathered the abandoned DVD cases and silently let himself out the door to return to his own room.
(For anyone observing their relationship from the outside, even their friendship before they became a couple, it would appear as if Bradley is selfish and oblivious to the needs of anyone other than himself.
Colin smiles good-naturedly at the numerous sympathetic looks thrown his way. But he knows better.)
~ ~ ~
Quality Time: In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there-with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby-makes your significant other feel truly special and loved.
4.
Bradley rarely put his DS down while they were chatting, it’s something Colin had become used to, accepted it as part of the whole package that made up Bradley James.
It never really bothered him, because he knew that at the end of the day Bradley was there for him, no matter what. They just had a different way of relating to each other than most couples.
Still, there were occasions where he wished they could move beyond the joking exterior that made up most of their conversations and actually discuss things of an emotional nature as adults.
It was the nature of their jobs, with the long hours and expectations placed upon them, to experience stress once in a while. Colin took his role seriously, wanted to do all he could to progress the series, bring all the emotion he could to the written word.
Which was why, when he got the script for the final episode for the second season, he immediately began to plan through his approach to the crucial emotional moments. He spent hours contemplating simple mannerisms, debating the small differences in intonation that could make or break a scene.
He was determined to do a good job, knowing that the finale would be the culmination of all the little clues, all the build-up from the season.
Bradley was in his room, flipping disinterestedly through the channels and commenting occasionally on some random French advertisement. Colin had seated himself at the small desk on the far side of the room, doing his best to block out the sounds from the TV so that he could concentrate on his script.
It had taken him all day, but finally he felt confident that he had a grasp of all but one of the big scenes.
He didn’t realise that he had made a noise until the sudden silence shocked him from his thoughts. Bradley appeared next to him, placing the TV remote on the desk beside his script. He craned his neck to see the scene that had drawn frustrated huffs, read through it silently for a moment, then nodded at Colin.
“We’ll start from your line.”
~ ~ ~
Receiving Gifts: Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you.
5.
When Bradley arrived at his door far earlier than should be legal on their day off, Colin found it difficult to be angry when faced with such enthusiasm.
With backpack bulging at the seams, he was dressed casually in jeans and t-shirt pulled over a red long sleeved top. He pushed his way into the room, snatching up a pair of shoes and tossing them in Colin’s direction.
“Day trip?” he smiled.
*
Having refused a driver, the two were forced to take the train to Paris, changing platforms twice, somehow managing not to board the wrong train and get hopelessly lost in the process.
It was far more amusing going independently, however, because it meant they could play off each other’s stupidity without having to worry about maintaining their image in a front of a third party. It was time Colin enjoyed more than anything, the freedom that Bradley allowed him. He never laughed as much or as freely with anyone but Bradley.
After just over an hour of thoroughly confusing the French locals with their banter, the train pulled in to Gare du Nord station and they changed to the RER B and headed east. Colin followed dutifully as they got off at Luxembourg, knowing better than to ask questions about where they were going (knowing answers would not be forthcoming).
Ahead of them, the thick ring of trees gave way into a huge open space; elaborate flower beds and greenery the landscape to the regal building spread out in the background.
Colin took it all in, a pleased smile on his face.
“Garden & Palace du Luxembourg,” Bradley informed.
“It’s lovely.”
“Come on,” Bradley took Colin’s hand in his own and tugged him over to a vacant circle of seats. Two of them he used as actual seats and the remaining one as a makeshift table to spread the contents of his backpack.
Colin watched, amused, as he first pulled out a large bottle of his favourite juice. Following that, a packet of 12 chocolate croissants - their favourite French food (a running joke between the two of them) and something they shared often. Finally, a pile of cling-wrapped packages that Colin took a while to identify as sandwiches due to the clumsy, excessive application of cling-film.
“Peanut butter,” Bradley told him proudly. “I know you mentioned it in your interview the other day, but I’ve heard you mention it a few times before then and wanted to get you something you liked, so...”
He gestured to the dozen or so sandwiches with a flourish.
Colin couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face, eyes crinkling with mirth as he surveyed the spread in front of them. Without a second thought he reached out for one of the packages. Bradley waited until he had taken his first bite before diving in himself, stuffing half a croissant in his mouth in one go.
The midday sun shone brightly, surrounding them in comfortable warmth, taking their time finishing off the food as they watched tiny sparrows flutter in and out amongst the flower beds, stealing the occasional crumb as they fell unnoticed.
Colin leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes and tilting his head back to bask in the sun. His entire body spoke of contentment and when he opened his eyes it was to find Bradley watching him with gentle affection. He reached out his hand and Bradley extended his own immediately, their palms coming together, fingers knotting easily.
With all their time spent working they both knew it was the simple things that worked best to boost their spirits. Colin considered not for the first time how lucky he was to have found someone who understood him as well as Bradley. For all his faults, he was extremely perceptive of his needs and unendingly generous with his time and self.
No, for all of Bradley's faults, Colin wouldn’t change a thing.
~ ~ ~
Title: The 5 Languages of Love
Author: psyche_cuore
Pairing: Bradley/Colin
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2656
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Purely a work of fiction. They belong to me only in my imagination.
Summary: Colin contemplates the many ways in which Bradley shows his love.
Notes: My first venture into Bradley/Colin and RPF in general, and only my second fic in Merlin fandom so any and all comments are very welcome. It is excessively fluffy, but apparently that is where my muse went with this.
Physical Touch: This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face - they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial.
1.
Physical touch had been a part of their relationship long before they became involved romantically. Colin was sure this was one of Bradley’s major forms of communication, because he seemed so determined to stick his foot in it when attempting to speak to people, that he must rely then on touch to soothe any wounds caused by his words.
At first, it was a slap on the back in greeting or a bump of the hip to extract a response when Colin took too long to react to a joke or playful jibe.
When Colin was bitten by the dog during filming, Bradley waited by his side as an ambulance was called. As everyone rushed about frantically, their voices combining into one unintelligible furore, Bradley reached out and placed a hand on Colin’s lower arm, squeezing gently. The soft look of concern on his face gave Colin something else to focus on, and slowly the roar of voices quietened until he was able to slow his breathing and calm his racing heart.
After that, Colin noticed more and more the ways in which Bradley communicated with him by touch. The brush of knuckles at the small of his back indicating concern as long days of filming took their toll, the celebratory hug when the cast gathered to watch the recently completed episode and the good luck squeeze to his shoulder as he embarked upon his first stunt.
Then, one day, it all changed and Colin noticed a difference in the touches. They were more frequent, tended to linger longer than decidedly necessary.
He puzzled over the change wordlessly for over a week. Then, the main cast arranged to meet for drinks on a Saturday night. Squeezed into a tiny booth in an already overcrowded bar, Colin found it impossible to focus on the conversation he’d been having, his concentration squarely on the feel of Bradley’s thigh pressed against his own. Confused with where his thoughts were leading him, he tried to shuffle over to create some distance between them, but then Bradley’s hand was on his thigh halting his progress, sure and steady.
Bradley tilted his head and gave him a soft look, reassuring. Colin understood.
He moved back to his original position, Bradley’s hand still firmly in place, thumb rubbing soothing circles against the rough fabric of his jeans.
If the others noticed the sudden smile that graced Colin’s features, they didn’t question it.
~ ~ ~
Words of Affirmation: Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important-hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward.
2.
He’d never noticed before just how complimentary Bradley was of him, between the insults, that is. But as they sat in the courtyard at Pierrefonds, waiting for filming to recommence and finishing off their interviews for the latest entertainment program visiting the set, Colin found himself caught up in Bradley’s assured response to the latest question about their relationship as co-stars.
“I’ve really come to appreciate his humour a lot more now, how complex and intelligent it is, and I think we’re quite attuned to each other’s sense of humour. But really, Col’s just a really nice guy - genuinely nice, you know? It’s rare.”
The interviewer wrapped it up shortly after that, having noticed the director making gestures across the courtyard. Once the cameras had left the vicinity, Colin appeared at Bradley’s side, bumping him playfully with his hip.
“You like me,” he grinned, eyes alight with pleasure.
“Well, obviously.”
Bradley adjusted his jacket and attempted to look unaffected, but he knew full well the meaning behind his words.
He sighed dramatically and made direct eye contact. “You’re not just a great shag, Col, I do actually appreciate your other qualities.”
Colin closed the distance between them, lowering his voice in a tone suggestive of a more intimate encounter.
“I appreciate you, too.”
The words were accompanied by a sneaky kiss too brief for either of their liking.
~ ~ ~
Acts of Service: Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.”
3.
No matter how exciting and fun it was to be filming in France, one thing that never got any easier was the early morning calls. Colin, more than anyone, was subjected to them on a regular basis. Somehow they never used to bother him quite so much, until they started to interfere with his nights spent with Bradley.
Early on, they’d tried spending the night together on evenings before early calls. But Colin was incapable of moving around the hotel room quietly in the dark and always felt guilty for disturbing Bradley, who was surprisingly grumpy when his sleep was interrupted.
After that, it was agreed they would remain in their own rooms.
That morning, like many others, Colin found himself running late, upending the contents of his room in search of his script. Finally finding it jammed between the bed and the side table, he threw it into his pack, slipped on his shoes and headed for the door.
As he opened the door, the wonderful rich aroma of chocolate hit him and he looked down to see a travel mug sitting on the carpet in the middle of the entranceway. Five minutes later, bundled into the warmth of the waiting transport, he had the opportunity to enjoy the hot drink that had been tempting his senses since he’d found it.
By the time the car reached the castle he was feeling warm and comfortable, ready to approach the day.
*
That evening when he returned to the hotel, Colin could think only of falling into bed. Barely able to keep his eyes open long enough to stumble up the stairs to his room, he somehow managed to get the key into his door and push it open.
He stood for several minutes just inside the doorway, staring blankly ahead as he gathered himself. Stuck in that overtired state where thoughts flowed through his brain, thick like molasses, it wasn’t surprising that he jumped at the sound of a voice from in front of him.
“Jesus, Colin, you’re dead on your feet!”
Bradley leapt to his feet from where he had been stretched out waiting on the bed, half a dozen chocolate wrappers falling around him as he stood.
He made his way over to the door and wrapped a hand securely around Colin’s bicep, placing his free hand against his lower back to guide him.
“Come on,” he encouraged. “Let’s get you changed and into bed.”
As they reached the edge of the bed, Bradley pushed gently so that Colin was sitting on the edge. Pulling at his shirt, Colin raised his arms helpfully and allowed himself to be undressed. With the shirt off, Bradley knelt on the aging carpet and reached for Colin’s belt, deftly unsnapping the buckle, popping the button and lowering the zipper.
Colin lay back against the blessedly soft covers, allowing himself to relax at last.
Bradley managed to wrestle the trousers down his legs, discarding them behind him without a second glance. Lifting Colin’s legs back onto the bed, he swivelled him around so he was stretched out fully.
Once he had him stretched comfortably against the pillows, Bradley joined him on the bed, pressed against his side so that he could stroke his hair from his forehead.
“What were you doing in here, anyway?” Colin asked, eyes still closed.
Bradley kept threading his fingers through his hair in a continued effort to soothe him.
“I thought we could watch a movie together, but that can wait until another night. Right now you just need to lay back and let yourself relax. Let me take care of you.”
Colin hummed his approval and leaned into the touch, enjoying the warmth spreading through his body. Finally at ease, he let himself drift in and out of the peaceful fog surrounding him, hanging on to the gentle timbre of Bradley’s voice mumbling nonsense close to his ear.
Minutes later, when the purring like noises had stopped, Bradley looked down to find Colin sleeping peacefully.
He pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, then gathered the abandoned DVD cases and silently let himself out the door to return to his own room.
(For anyone observing their relationship from the outside, even their friendship before they became a couple, it would appear as if Bradley is selfish and oblivious to the needs of anyone other than himself.
Colin smiles good-naturedly at the numerous sympathetic looks thrown his way. But he knows better.)
~ ~ ~
Quality Time: In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there-with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby-makes your significant other feel truly special and loved.
4.
Bradley rarely put his DS down while they were chatting, it’s something Colin had become used to, accepted it as part of the whole package that made up Bradley James.
It never really bothered him, because he knew that at the end of the day Bradley was there for him, no matter what. They just had a different way of relating to each other than most couples.
Still, there were occasions where he wished they could move beyond the joking exterior that made up most of their conversations and actually discuss things of an emotional nature as adults.
It was the nature of their jobs, with the long hours and expectations placed upon them, to experience stress once in a while. Colin took his role seriously, wanted to do all he could to progress the series, bring all the emotion he could to the written word.
Which was why, when he got the script for the final episode for the second season, he immediately began to plan through his approach to the crucial emotional moments. He spent hours contemplating simple mannerisms, debating the small differences in intonation that could make or break a scene.
He was determined to do a good job, knowing that the finale would be the culmination of all the little clues, all the build-up from the season.
Bradley was in his room, flipping disinterestedly through the channels and commenting occasionally on some random French advertisement. Colin had seated himself at the small desk on the far side of the room, doing his best to block out the sounds from the TV so that he could concentrate on his script.
It had taken him all day, but finally he felt confident that he had a grasp of all but one of the big scenes.
He didn’t realise that he had made a noise until the sudden silence shocked him from his thoughts. Bradley appeared next to him, placing the TV remote on the desk beside his script. He craned his neck to see the scene that had drawn frustrated huffs, read through it silently for a moment, then nodded at Colin.
“We’ll start from your line.”
~ ~ ~
Receiving Gifts: Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you.
5.
When Bradley arrived at his door far earlier than should be legal on their day off, Colin found it difficult to be angry when faced with such enthusiasm.
With backpack bulging at the seams, he was dressed casually in jeans and t-shirt pulled over a red long sleeved top. He pushed his way into the room, snatching up a pair of shoes and tossing them in Colin’s direction.
“Day trip?” he smiled.
*
Having refused a driver, the two were forced to take the train to Paris, changing platforms twice, somehow managing not to board the wrong train and get hopelessly lost in the process.
It was far more amusing going independently, however, because it meant they could play off each other’s stupidity without having to worry about maintaining their image in a front of a third party. It was time Colin enjoyed more than anything, the freedom that Bradley allowed him. He never laughed as much or as freely with anyone but Bradley.
After just over an hour of thoroughly confusing the French locals with their banter, the train pulled in to Gare du Nord station and they changed to the RER B and headed east. Colin followed dutifully as they got off at Luxembourg, knowing better than to ask questions about where they were going (knowing answers would not be forthcoming).
Ahead of them, the thick ring of trees gave way into a huge open space; elaborate flower beds and greenery the landscape to the regal building spread out in the background.
Colin took it all in, a pleased smile on his face.
“Garden & Palace du Luxembourg,” Bradley informed.
“It’s lovely.”
“Come on,” Bradley took Colin’s hand in his own and tugged him over to a vacant circle of seats. Two of them he used as actual seats and the remaining one as a makeshift table to spread the contents of his backpack.
Colin watched, amused, as he first pulled out a large bottle of his favourite juice. Following that, a packet of 12 chocolate croissants - their favourite French food (a running joke between the two of them) and something they shared often. Finally, a pile of cling-wrapped packages that Colin took a while to identify as sandwiches due to the clumsy, excessive application of cling-film.
“Peanut butter,” Bradley told him proudly. “I know you mentioned it in your interview the other day, but I’ve heard you mention it a few times before then and wanted to get you something you liked, so...”
He gestured to the dozen or so sandwiches with a flourish.
Colin couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face, eyes crinkling with mirth as he surveyed the spread in front of them. Without a second thought he reached out for one of the packages. Bradley waited until he had taken his first bite before diving in himself, stuffing half a croissant in his mouth in one go.
The midday sun shone brightly, surrounding them in comfortable warmth, taking their time finishing off the food as they watched tiny sparrows flutter in and out amongst the flower beds, stealing the occasional crumb as they fell unnoticed.
Colin leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes and tilting his head back to bask in the sun. His entire body spoke of contentment and when he opened his eyes it was to find Bradley watching him with gentle affection. He reached out his hand and Bradley extended his own immediately, their palms coming together, fingers knotting easily.
With all their time spent working they both knew it was the simple things that worked best to boost their spirits. Colin considered not for the first time how lucky he was to have found someone who understood him as well as Bradley. For all his faults, he was extremely perceptive of his needs and unendingly generous with his time and self.
No, for all of Bradley's faults, Colin wouldn’t change a thing.
~ ~ ~